You'd have to call a demolition derby the original Cash for Clunkers program.

Billy Marrow's clunkers have certainly brought in the cash, with the Hot Springs driver pocketing $1,500 for surviving Saturday night's Johnson Machine NAPA Auto Parts demolition derby in front of a packed grandstand at the Central States Fair.

Marrow, in a 1976 Buick Century, delivered the final shot on Brady Birkeland's 1985 Ford Crown Victoria, crushing head-on blows that threatened to fold Birkeland's car in half and put the unrecognizable car out of action.

"You've got to keep your eyes open for all the good shots, and you've got to watch your own back," Marrow said.

Birkeland of Dupree, settled for $750 second-place prize money. Third was Dick Remington of Piedmont in a '65 Chrysler, winning $500. Taking home $250 for fourth was Cody Birkeland of Dupree in a 1980 Chrysler, with Derrick Orth of Mobridge pocketing $100 for fifth.

Marrow has had a good summer on the demo derby circuit, adding a first at a derby in Hot Springs, a second place at Edgemont, first at Philip and a sixth at Gillette, Wyo., to his win Saturday night.

Crowd favorite Stephanie Smith of Box Elder just missed advancing to the main event when her all-pink 1965 Chrysler New Yorker became jammed in the dirt embankment surrounding the pit in the third heat race. She was forced out of the last-chance qualifier by transmission failure.

Topping the first heat were Dick Remington and Stan Schlecht of Whitewood in a 1971 Mercury.

Slade Farlee of Dupree in a 1989 Lincoln and Sam Van Cleave of Box Elder, driving a 1969 Chevy Impala, were the top two in the second heat.

Cody Birkeland and Morrow made the cut in the third heat.

Brady Birkeland and Shelby Moore of Rapid City, in a '76 Ford LTD, emerged from the fourth heat.

The first last-chance qualifier saw Scott Allen of Box Elder, in a 1977 Chrysler, and Tim Remington of Rapid City, in a 1974 Dodge, advance to the main event.

Orth, in a 1972 Chrysler, and Jason Bunney of Rapid City, driving a 1974 Cadillac, advanced from the second last-chance qualifier.